ENEMY STRATEGY IN BURMA

Southland Times, Issue 24650, 23 January 1942, Page 5

ENEMY STRATEGY IN BURMA

DIFFICULT PROBLEM FOR DEFENCE FORMER OPINIONS REVISED (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. The Japanese occupation of Tavoy indicates Japan’s intention to consolidate the occupation of territory between the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Siam, thus securing lines in the rear of the Malayan armies, says the Rangoon radio. More Japanese thrusts into Burma must be expected in the immediate future.

The Rangoon correspondent of the Associated Press says that the Japanese strategy of piecemeal occupation of exposed areas in South Burma has produced a very difficult problem for the defence, which will remain until the British forces in Burma reach offensive strength. Moulmein is less vulnerable than Tavoy, but is by no means ideal for a decisive stand. It is only 15 minutes’ flying from three Japanese air bases and the Japanese appear at present to be making it their primary air target. Swamps and bridgeless rivers separate it from Rangoon and other points to which a garrison, if outnumbered, could make an orderly withdrawal.

Optimistic assumptions, formerly encouraged here, were that all the available Japanese strength was concentrated on the struggles for Malaya and the Philippines and that Japanese activity in Burma would be indefinitely confined to frontier raids. It was also assumed that the Allied garrisons in South Burma could easily be reinforced by sea. All these assumptions have been revised. HEAVY FIGHTING A Rangoon communique states: Our forces, fighting throughout the day in the Kawkareik area, are resisting strongly. Heavy fighting is still in progress. Kakareik is 45 miles east of Moulmein. Tokyo claims that Japanese troops, advancing on Moulmein, have, after heavy fighting, broken the resistance of 40,000 British troops opposing them. ■

Moulmein is 100 sea miles from Rangoon. It is an important port giving access to the Indian Ocean.

A later message from Rangoon stated that in fierce fighting in the Kawkareik area east of Moulmein British bombers and United States fighters are taking part The combined threat of a Japanese thrust towards Moulmein has been held north of Miyawaddy. CHINESE WARRIORS “If General Hutton wants more men there are thousands of fit Chinese warriors eager for action,” said General Liu Kwanloong, leader of the Chinese forces in Burma, according to the Rangoon correspondent of the Associated Press.

General Liu added that by troops he meant skilled veterans who had been fighting for years and had participated in many major battles. General Liu conferred with the British High Command in Burma and arranged for Chinese troops to guard a section of Burma’s north-eastern frontier, where mountains 7000 feet high cut gorges. Lieutenant-General Hutton, General Officer Commanding Burma, said that the number of Chinese was considerable and probably more would be arriving. Chinese rifles and automatics were excellent. They were disciplined and had plenty of artillery suitable for mountain warfare. General Liu said that his force trekked for miles from South Kwiangsi entirely by foot without mules for motor-lorries. The men carried supplies, rifles and mountain artillery in long daily forced marches.

PROGRESS OF FIGHTING IN PHILIPPINES

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. The United States War Department reports as follows from Washington: In particularly savage fighting on the Balan Peninsula American and Philippine troops drove back the enemy and re-established their lines which had previously been penetrated. The Japanese, by infiltrations and frontal attacks near the centre line, had gained some initial successes. Our troops then counter-attacked and all positions were retaken. Enemy losses were very heavy. Our casualties were moderate.

One of General MacArthur’s guerrilla bands, operating in the Cagayan Valley in Northern Luzon, scored a brilliant success in a surprise raid on a hostile aerodrome. The Japanese were taken completely by surprise and fled in confusion, leaving 110 dead on the field. About 300 others were put to flight. Our losses were very light. BATAVIA COMMUNIQUE

A Dutch submarine, with a damaged engine, escaped during the Japanese attack on the island of Tarakan, according to a communique issued by the headquarters of the Netherlands East Indies forces at Batavia. This states that yesterday afternoon a lightship near Medan was bombed and machinegunned by three enemy aircraft after an air reconnaissance had taken place. No damage was. done. Later the same afternoon five Japanese aircraft, after having circled over parts of Medan for about half an hour, dropped about nine bombs. Three persons were killed. The damage to property was small. Enemy aircraft attacked an aerodrome in Borneo, damaging the aircraft station.